Staff have no confidence in Careers Scotland management
Letter to MSPs
19 November 2004
To: All Members of the Scottish Parliament
Please find attached a report outlining the results
of a recent UNISON Scotland survey conducted amongst our membership
within Careers Scotland. We believe the results of this survey serve
to illustrate the extensive levels of dissatisfaction amongst staff
within Careers Scotland and the lack of confidence in senior management
to effectively develop the organisation in a manner which will meet
the needs of both users and the Scottish economy as a whole.
It is our belief that current career services in
Scotland have deteriorated greatly over the last two years and that
this deterioration in service originates not from any lack of commitment
and professionalism on the part of staff but from a lack of proper
management consultation with staff regarding alterations to services
and the excessive pressures exerted on staff by management as a
result of this.
In addition, we also believe that the recent statement
by the Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive to the effect that the
organisation should not be delivering services which are aimed at
developing people who may currently lack employment skills was ill
considered and regrettable. As well as being a clear threat to the
Scottish Executive's "Inclusion" agenda we believe the statement
also served to undermine the work of the hundreds of Careers Scotland
staff currently delivering work which develops the skills of those
currently excluded from the labour market. UNISON Scotland's position
remains that "Inclusion" work is part of the core work, which Careers
Scotland should be focused on delivering.
Also, the imposition of a pay deal in 2004 along
with the introduction of Scottish Enterprise's discredited Performance
Related Pay system to Careers Scotland staff has undermined industrial
relations within the organisation. The introduction of this pay
system has been imposed on staff with little consultation and no
agreement from staff and their trade union. Indeed, the norm of
staff consenting via a ballot to the pay system has been totally
bypassed.
It is our opinion that Scottish Enterprise's Performance
Management and Pay System perpetuate gender and regional inequalities,
indeed, are we to believe that a system that Jack Perry himself
described as "fundamentally unfair" is now acceptable
with superficial tinkering? There are many other issues that make
this system unpalatable not least the fact that it is costly, bureaucratic,
divisive, contrary to the public sector ethos and above all unfair
UNISON Scotland is genuinely concerned at the developments
that are currently taking place within Scottish Careers and Scottish
Enterprise. We believe that as a result of the factors outlined
above there is a real danger that those seeking careers advice in
Scotland will have access only to a second-rate service, demoralised
and ill-equipped to deliver effective advice and services in the
21st century.
UNISON Scotland would welcome the opportunity to
discuss these matters further with Ministers in what is widely regarded
as a challenging time for the future of Careers Scotland.
Yours sincerely
Peter Veldon
PETER VELDON
Regional Officer, UNISON
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